Two-hour Gupkar meeting brings legislators and top leadership together;
Portfolio changes, party restructuring and coordination with govt figure in discussions
Srinagar| Nov, 06 : In a bid to contain growing discontent within its ranks, the National Conference leadership on Friday held extensive discussions with a group of dissenting legislators, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party president Dr Farooq Abdullah assuring them that their concerns would be addressed in phases.
The two-hour meeting, held at Dr Farooq Abdullah’s Gupkar residence in Srinagar, brought together the party’s top leadership and legislators who had raised concerns over the functioning of the government, organisational affairs and the handling of constituency-related issues.
While the meeting appeared to have opened a channel for reconciliation, the leadership’s assurance that some demands would be addressed immediately and others gradually indicated that several issues would require further deliberations.
Emerging from the meeting, Dr Farooq Abdullah dismissed reports of a possible split in the party, describing speculation about divisions within the National Conference as baseless.
“The baseless reports being spread that the National Conference is divided are completely false,” he said, asserting that the party remained united.
He maintained that the concerns raised by the legislators were genuine and had received due consideration from the leadership.
“Some concerns will be addressed immediately, while others will be taken up gradually,” he said.
The discussions reportedly covered a range of issues, including changes in ministerial portfolios, removal of certain individuals, strengthening of the party organisation and improving coordination between elected representatives and the government.
NC MLA Abdul Majeed Bhat alias Larmi said the meeting had addressed the concerns raised by the legislators and described the discussions as satisfactory.
“Everything has been sorted out. Whatever differences were there have been resolved,” he said.
He said the legislators had also raised issues concerning implementation of the party’s election manifesto and its political commitment towards restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A.
Another legislator, Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri, said the leadership had listened to their demands and expressed hope that some of the issues would be resolved immediately, while others might take time.
“Some demands will be accepted immediately, while some may take time,” he said.
Veeri also expressed hope that concerns regarding legislators’ access to ministers and difficulties in getting constituency-related works executed would be addressed.
On the restoration of Article 370, he reiterated that the party leadership remained committed to pursuing the issue.
NC MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi also said the leadership had given a patient hearing to the legislators and assured them that their concerns would be taken up.
The meeting assumes significance amid questions over coordination between the elected representatives and the government, particularly over the role of legislators in addressing public grievances and securing development-related interventions in their constituencies.
For the party leadership, the immediate challenge appears to be translating assurances into administrative and organisational action while ensuring that the concerns of legislators do not develop into a larger political confrontation.
Although the meeting has signalled a willingness on both sides to engage, the extent to which the assurances will translate into concrete changes is likely to become clearer in the coming days.
